Would be tourists planning a break in Majorca this year may be looking for other destinations after some locals railed against high levels of tourism negatively affecting the island.
The frenzy has been caused by a letter signed by seven protest groups based in the Balearic Islands. The letter is designed to dissuade would-be tourists from visiting Majorca.
The letter, which addresses tourists directly, seeks to explain why people for whom Majorca is home, wish to see a drastic reduction in the number of people holidaying on the island.
The letter focuses on how a total of 18.4 million visited the Balearic Islands in 2024 alone, which, according to the English language news outlet, The Majorca Daily Bulletin, represents a five per cent increase on figures for 2023.
Majorca "has been squeezed to unsuspected limits" states the letter. The signatories of the letter argue that "the greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and 'parasites' of all kinds" have resulted in the deterioration of the island.
The letter argues that the government "denies the reality and continues to promote tourism in various markets, such as at the Berlin Fair, instead of listening and taking measures to reverse this tragedy".
In alarming language, the groups said: "Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate."
Responding to the letter on social media, one tourist posted a scathing reply: "We as tourists have to pay a substantial amount of our hard earned money to come to Mallorca, are these protesters willing to pay me the same to stay away as they no longer need or want us, they've obviously made a fortune out of tourism previously to no longer need it to sustain their comfy lifestyles."
"Careful of what you wish for, the majority of islanders are employed through tourism in some form, that's an awful lot of unemployed to support," said the man.
A second tourist said: "We are there in May then will not go back sadly. They don't want our money, Lanzarote can have it, or even Egypt."
Whilst a third person wrote: "I love Majorca but if residents of the Island don't want tourists then maybe all tourists should stop going there. Let's see how quickly their economy crumbles and they start begging people to come back."
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